Transylvania 100
Transylvania 100 - T80K
Bran
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The T80K is the mid-distance flagship of the Transylvania 100, a point-to-loop mountain race starting and finishing at the iconic Bran Castle. Covering 83 km with 4251 m of climbing and a high point of 2494 m at Vf. Omu, this is a serious alpine undertaking in the heart of the Romanian Carpathians. Runners pass through two of Romania's most dramatic mountain massifs — the Bucegi and the area above Bran — navigating exposed ridgelines, technical rocky terrain and deep forest valley descents across a generous but demanding cut-off window that closes at 06:00 the following morning. With ten checkpoints spread across the route, the race is well-supported but unforgiving above treeline. The combination of high-altitude ridge running, significant cumulative ascent and prolonged overnight effort means fitness alone is not enough — sound navigation awareness, weather preparation and disciplined pacing from the start at Bran Castle (762 m) are what separate finishers from DNFs.
Course & Terrain
The race begins at Bran Castle (762 m) with an immediate climb of nearly 1000 m to T1 Malaiesti at 12.9 km and 1705 m — a sharp early test that sets the tone. From there the route pushes higher still to Vf. Omu at 17.2 km and 2493 m, the absolute roof of the course, where the terrain is exposed, rocky and can be technical underfoot in any weather. The ridge traverse through T3 Batrana (2146 m) is classic Bucegi running: open, scenic and navigationally straightforward in good conditions but potentially disorienting in mist or wind. Below Batrana the course drops to T4 Pestera (1617 m) before climbing again to T5 Piatra Arsa (1962 m) and then descending to the Bolboci Cabin at 42.1 km and 1435 m — roughly the halfway mark. The second half rolls through Saua Strunga (1919 m) before a long descent into Moieciu de Sus (969 m) at 62.5 km. A final climb to Poiana Gutanu (1459 m) at 68.9 km is the last major effort before the course drops back to Poarta (979 m) and the flat run into Bran Castle (748 m) at 82.5 km. Surfaces vary from rocky alpine paths and grassy ridges to rooted forest trails and jeep tracks — expect everything.
The Decisive Climbs & Where the Race Is Won or Lost
The opening 17 km to Vf. Omu is the defining section of the race. Gaining roughly 1730 m in elevation from the start to the summit, this stretch must be run conservatively — runners who burn matches here pay heavily in the second half. The cut-off at T1 Malaiesti is 09:00 on race day, which means you need to be moving steadily but not racing the climb. Vf. Omu itself has no listed cut-off, but its position at 2493 m means exposure to wind and cold is a real concern; conditions change fast on the Bucegi plateau. The second crucial section is the climb from Moieciu de Sus (969 m, T8) back up to Poiana Gutanu (1459 m, T9) between km 62.5 and 68.9. This comes after the longest descent of the race and arrives at what will be, for most runners, somewhere between midnight and 03:00. The T8 cut-off of 23:00 gives a clear reference point: if you leave Moieciu de Sus on time and in good shape, the final 20 km — about 500 m of climbing remaining — is achievable within the 06:00 finish cut-off. Blow up on the early climbs or lose time in the middle miles and this section becomes a survival march.
Pacing & Fuelling
With 4251 m of climbing across 83 km, the effort-adjusted distance is significantly longer than the raw figure suggests. A sensible approach is to pace almost entirely by effort and heart rate on the ascents, particularly on the long climb to Vf. Omu, and to bank time on the runnable ridges and descents rather than trying to push on technical uphills. The cut-offs — T4 Pestera at 12:00, T5 Piatra Arsa at 14:30, T6 Bolboci at 17:00 — form a clear pacing spine for the first half: use them actively to judge whether you are ahead of or behind a sustainable pace. Fuelling discipline is critical across a potential 18–24+ hour effort. Eat at every checkpoint regardless of appetite, and carry enough between T7 Saua Strunga (50.2 km) and T8 Moieciu de Sus (62.5 km) to cover 12+ km of mixed terrain that includes the exposed Strunga saddle. Night running begins for most participants somewhere around T6 or T7, so front-load calorie intake in daylight hours and have headtorch batteries and warm layers accessible — not buried in your pack — well before sunset.
Conditions to Expect
The Transylvania 100 takes place in mountain terrain where weather changes rapidly and significantly with altitude. At Vf. Omu (2493 m) temperatures can drop well below what you experience at the Bran Castle start (762 m), and wind chill on the open Bucegi ridgeline between T2 and T4 can be severe even in summer. Mandatory kit requirements should be taken seriously, not treated as bureaucratic minimums — a lightweight waterproof jacket, insulating layer and emergency bivouac are genuinely useful above 2000 m. Below treeline the terrain becomes more sheltered but trail surfaces can be slippery after rain — rooted paths and stream crossings are common on the forest sections leading into Moieciu de Sus and Poarta. At night, temperature drops across the valley sections and the higher saddle at Poiana Gutanu (1459 m) may feel significantly colder than expected after the descent. Check the mountain forecast for the Bucegi massif specifically in the days before the race, not just the valley town forecast, and be prepared to make a gear call based on summit conditions.
Race Transylvania 100 - T80K with Crux
Get the strategy, fuelling and crew plan dialled for this exact course — built from the real route, climbs and cut-offs. Your first race is free.
Plan this race — freeCourse profile
Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 762 m · —
12.9 km · 1705 m · Sat 09:00
17.2 km · 2493 m · —
22.2 km · 2146 m · —
27.2 km · 1617 m · Sat 12:00
33.3 km · 1962 m · Sat 14:30
42.1 km · 1435 m · Sat 17:00
50.2 km · 1919 m · —
62.5 km · 969 m · Sat 23:00
68.9 km · 1459 m · —
77.6 km · 979 m · —
82.5 km · 748 m · Sun 06:00
More races
More in Romania
Similar distance (100 km–100 miles)
Racing Transylvania 100 - T80K?
Get a complete race strategy — pacing, fuelling, crew plan and the crux moments — built on this exact course.
Plan your race in Crux →Strava is your training. Crux is your races.